Baruni, formerly called Jhuldabhaj, merged with Phulwaria township in 1961. It has major highway, rail, and ferry connections and is an agricultural trade centre. Baruni is chiefly an industrial complex, with a petroleum refinery and a thermal power plant. The town is the site of a college affiliated with Lalit Narayan Mithila University. Pop. (2001) 19,786; (2011) 71,660.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg, Assistant Editor.